Someone might have told you that having a tree or two in your Winter Garden rental property’s landscaping can help boost your rental rate. And there is, indeed, some good evidence to support that claim. But what you don’t often hear is that the type of tree you plant also influences your cash flows. Not all kinds of trees, however, are suitable for a rental situation.
The big question, though, is whether or not planting fruit trees on a rental property is a good idea. Given that there are no rules about which type of tree is best, and knowing that different trees grow better in different climates, it is vital that you consider all aspects of fruit trees in question before you decide.
The Best Trees for Rental Properties
A profitable rental property has great curb appeal. And having one or more shady trees in the yard adds to that curb appeal. What are the best trees for a rental property? You should be looking for one that grows well in your climate, offers shade & visual appeal, and is easy to maintain. These trees are actually not hard to find. Trees that fit the bill in many parts of the country include evergreen arborvitae, spruce, flowering dogwoods, and maple trees. Other good options for rental properties are oak and desert willow. In addition to being able to grow well and offer shade relatively quickly, they don’t need to be pruned often from year to year.
The Skinny on Fruit Trees
Your Winter Garden property manager might think that a fruit tree would be a good feature in your rental house. Some renters also like the idea that you can grow and eat fruit straight from the yard. But unless your tenant has some experience in caring for and maintaining fruit trees, and has the time to properly do the job, fruit trees can become a burden instead. Many renters opt not to apply for or stay in a rental that has fruit trees as the work they require can be a big drawback.
Seeing that the best trees for rental properties are low-maintenance, that would exclude fruit trees altogether. A big reason for foregoing fruit trees at a rental property is the mess and maintenance that comes with them. Fruit trees usually take years of care before they produce fruit. Some are also sensitive to heat, cold, watering amounts, and so on.
Fruit trees also need to be properly pruned and fumigated to produce edible fruit every year. Something most people don’t know much about. Fruit often attracts unwanted insects and rodents as well, which your tenant may not be happy dealing with. It’s probably best to avoid fruit trees altogether if you or your tenant do not have the time and effort they require.
Fruit Trees in the Lease Documents
If you are willing to accept the responsibility of having fruit trees on your rental property, you need to stipulate in your lease your tenant’s obligations where those trees are concerned. It is not enough to assign landscaping maintenance to your tenant; they may not realize that this includes regular pruning and clean-up after fruit trees, which is a lot of extra work. If you are not going to take care of the trees yourself, make sure that your lease documents explain that the tenants need to care for the trees or hire a professional to do it for them.
At Real Property Management South Orlando, we work with rental property owners like you to help create beautiful, low-maintenance landscaping your tenants won’t mind keeping up. Contact us today to learn more.
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